I finished it! Love him or hate him, Tom Friedman is nothing if not VERBOSE. This book has many interesting, if slightly dated, insights into globalizI finished it! Love him or hate him, Tom Friedman is nothing if not VERBOSE. This book has many interesting, if slightly dated, insights into globalization and all of its manifestations and effects. My main complaint is that the far-reaching environmental impacts of consumption and industrialization are barely acknowledged. I will find out if he revises some of these views in Hot, Flat and Crowded. ...more

This book should be required reading for anyone who eats fish. I only wish there had been more chapters, or that he would write another book with infoThis book should be required reading for anyone who eats fish. I only wish there had been more chapters, or that he would write another book with information on shellfish and other types of seafood. ...more

Not the greatest book (like, where are the photos?), but it made me so nostalgic for Sassy!! The book also explains causes behind the magazine's demisNot the greatest book (like, where are the photos?), but it made me so nostalgic for Sassy!! The book also explains causes behind the magazine's demise; I vividly remember getting my first "post-sellout" issue in 1995 and feeling utterly, horribly betrayed.

If you have any interest in infectious diseases, public health, and city ecosystems, this is a fascinating story about a cholera epidemic in London. TIf you have any interest in infectious diseases, public health, and city ecosystems, this is a fascinating story about a cholera epidemic in London. The book drags on in the end - it's about 4 chapters too long in my opinion, but definitely worth reading....more

Another enlightening, well-crafted and ultimately depressing work of historical fiction about Australia, written by an Australian. Read this one back-Another enlightening, well-crafted and ultimately depressing work of historical fiction about Australia, written by an Australian. Read this one back-to-back with "The True History of the Ned Kelly Gang" and you will be near-suicidal. ...more

You will love this book if you have any interest in the Amazon, ethnobotany, taxonomy, natural history, anthropology, linguistics, South American histYou will love this book if you have any interest in the Amazon, ethnobotany, taxonomy, natural history, anthropology, linguistics, South American history, and oh, yeah, hallucinogenic plants. The beautiful prose is icing on the cake. ...more

Good ideas. Badly written. It's hard to go from Bill McKibeen's finely-honed prose to this book. Also, not impressed by the Chinese-made "sustainable,Good ideas. Badly written. It's hard to go from Bill McKibeen's finely-honed prose to this book. Also, not impressed by the Chinese-made "sustainable, upcyclable" plastic pages and binding....more

The title of this book is misleading - it's really about the American River Canyon near Auburn, CA. This is a great little book about an abused but reThe title of this book is misleading - it's really about the American River Canyon near Auburn, CA. This is a great little book about an abused but resilient tract of wilderness....more

A fun, light read. In college, I climbed the mountain and backpacked the Wonderland Trail. The book made me so nostalgic... I miss the Pacific NorthweA fun, light read. In college, I climbed the mountain and backpacked the Wonderland Trail. The book made me so nostalgic... I miss the Pacific Northwest!!...more